Chapter 109
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Mafia Game (3)
"Oh. This stream's gonna be fun."
I set aside the popcorn I was eating and turned off the room lights to focus on the broadcast. To think it started with an invite from Older Sister Yeon-ah and spiraled into a gathering of these mega-streamers.
"Just Myth plus Sara and Mika makes nearly 15 million viewers, right? It's literally a war of the stars."
This is gonna be insanely fun—maybe I should head to the living room and watch it properly? As that thought crossed my mind, Jun's phone started ringing. No one usually calls at this hour, so I hurried to grab it, wondering if it was urgent.
"Huh? Older Sister Yeon-ah?"
Isn't Older Sister Yeon-ah streaming right now? I was flustered but picked up anyway. It might be about Myth or something.
"Ah, Older Sister Yeon-ah. Is something wr—"
"Little bro! You got time? No, please say you do!"
I froze for a second. Sure, I'm technically a streamer—it's even listed that way on XWiki—but honestly, I barely stream anymore; I'm practically retired. Was it really okay for someone like me to crash a lineup like that?
"Do I need to go live?"
"Even if you lurk, I'll cover for you, so please...! Things turned into a total VTuber fest here, and it's freaking me out!!"
Ah, got it. That explained it.
Makes sense—with four from DreamLive, plus Myth, Sara, and Older Sister Yeon-ah herself. Everyone but her was a VTuber, so no wonder she sounded so desperate.
Honestly, I did owe her from that drinking party last time, and if I looked even deeper into my own feelings...
'Looks fun...!'
No, it straight-up looked fun. I had friends I could call, but we're all in our late twenties now—too old to just gather and game like we used to.
Some are raising kids, others pulling night shifts, some studying even after getting home, and there's even a grad student.
It was impossible for us to play something like Mafia that needs eight or more people.
I'd thought about asking Myth if she wanted to try, but I didn't want to burden her, so I'd quietly satisfied myself with just watching her streams. And now this opportunity drops in.
Personally, I didn't want to miss it.
...Plus, I could surprise Myth a little. It was a no-lose proposition—nothing to lose, everything to gain.
"Yeah, I'll hop in within ten minutes. My setup's still kinda tricky for personal streams."
"Okay, okay! If worst comes to worst, fire up XCode and just ping me with questions...! It's super lightweight—fast internet should download it in three minutes flat."
"For real. I had no idea a game like this was under 1GB."
"Alright, I'll take that as a yes!"
I'd never seen Older Sister Yeon-ah this desperate before.
Time to help her out. I've been taking too much without giving back.
She said no need to stream, so I rushed to set up my mic and game.
"Still, just joining plain feels lame. Maybe add a little surprise flair."
I casually moved my mouse to the XCode profile.
"Phew... You called? I'll be there in ten, so can everyone hang tight a bit?"
Everyone nodded positively. In people-gathering content like this, the chit-chat while waiting is the real meat—ten minutes for the next person was no issue at all.
"Huh~. Mika, you got totally roasted this time, huh."
"...Can we drop that story? Sara."
"Your Mika avatar was cute too. I was shocked when I saw it."
"Thanks, sis. Ughhh...!"
"AHAHA! So honest, Mika. Your frustration's showing way too much?"
"It's cheating... That stuff... It's totally cheating...!"
With the world's top three VTubers huddled together bantering like this, viewers were glued to the screen, losing track of time.
Myth, Mika, and Sara—they got along fine, but language barriers kept them from frequent collabs.
This was pretty much the first time all three had streamed together. Sure, there was last year's Christmas show, but before that? Rare as hen's teeth.
As viewer reactions exploded, people started buzzing about the eighth member. Myth picked up on the vibe like a pro and asked.
"So, sis, can you spill it now? The eighth member."
"Whoa, Myth. You know better—you're a streamer. The thrill's in that last-second suspense before they join."
"At least a hint."
"Pfft, even if I gave one, you'd be the only one here who'd get it—the other VTubers wouldn't have a clue."
"Me! I know! I watch Korean streams religiously!"
The newbie VTuber, Pony—who'd debuted less than six months ago and was getting steamrolled by the vets—shot her hand up fast.
Korean, right? Her accent was a bit off, but it felt deliberate, like she was playing it up. That distinctive twang screamed Korean anyway. Who knew DreamLive had Koreans?
"I catch Korean streams when I'm bored too, so hit us with that hint."
"Me too~. Eris probably does the same."
"...Yeah, Sara. It's weird hearing you not trash-talk."
"Quiet, Eris. I'm holding back."
The other VTubers jumped in seamlessly. Streamer instincts—they ride the flow like nobody's business.
I could even feel the consideration for Yeon-ah, who's a bit out of her element, as they deliberately pulled her into the topic.
Ugh, now the mood's such that I have to give a hint.
"W-well, first off, not a VTuber."
"Whoa, not a VTuber?!"
"Makes sense, Yeon-ah sis needed members too. Now that you mention it, it was too VTuber-heavy—sorry about that."
"Nah, nah. More fresh faces is a good thing."
"But not a VTuber... You sure it's okay for them to join this collab, sis?"
"Don't worry. Not a VTuber, but someone more passionate about them than anyone in the world."
Myth tilted her head.
More passionate about VTubers than anyone? Plenty of streamer otakus out there. As long as it's the right fit, it'd be fine.
Right then, someone joined the server.
"Oh, they're here. Who is it?"
"Come on in~ Newcomer! Drop your name~"
All eyes turned. The seven streamers checked the XCode server, but the newbie's nick was deliberately obscured as liliilil1li—some unreadable barcode mess. No way to ID them from that.
A deliberate hide to delay the reveal. Tension rippled among the VTubers. Nobody normally nicks like that, so changing it just to join meant they were confident in their fame.
It was a classic ploy to hype the surprise. Like a sergeant blending in with rookies incognito.
'Fun. The name alone says it's someone we'd all know.'
'Who? Anyone that big in Korea?'
Yeon-ah caught the intent and played along.
"What, just join already—were you shy?"
"Who the heck did you call, sis?! Don't tell me it's some 3-million-sub mega-streamer?"
"It is? But relax. They know the VTuber scene inside out, so it'll be fine."
Not "little bro," but "person." The deliberate ambiguity popped a question mark over Myth's head.
Korea barely has any nutubers with 3 million+ who game. Who could it be? Her head started to ache.
Sure, 3 million+ means they're seasoned, but sometimes they say rude stuff to VTubers.
Yeon-ah sis wouldn't call someone like that... but the worry lingered.
Seconds of silence ticked by, everyone dying to know who it was. Finally, the mystery barcode spoke.
"Ah, uh."
An unfamiliar voice. As question marks popped over heads, one person clocked it instantly.
"Seol?"
Myth blurted out her boyfriend's name in shock.
Seol.
The overseas VTubers blanked at first.
Seol? Who's that?
"Looked fun, so I came. That cool?"
"Uh. Um. Ah... Yeah, why not? If you think it'll be fun. Should've called you myself if I'd known."
"I'd only seen you do it on EightHuman streams, so I wanted to try. Been forever since we chatted on stream."
"Yeah. My heart's racing now for no reason."
And only when Legend and Myth started sweetly chatting did the VTubers connect the dots: Seol = Legend = QWER—
"...QWER?"
"For real? The real deal? Not real-real, but real-life?!"
"Whoa! I'm a huge fan, Legend!!!"
The arrival of the VTuber world's true 'Legend' flipped the chat—and the stream—upside down again.
And as the crowning cherry on top—
"Huh? Legend oppa?"
Sara's demure 'oppa' call. Chat detonated at her first 'oppa' to him. Myth rubbed her throbbing temples and quietly typed.
"No way, actual QWER?!"
"Whoa! Whoa! I've been deeply moved by all your works, QWER!!!"
"Uh, um. Well..."
"I'm a fan!! Say my name once, please!!!"
"Uh, Eris?"
"Kyaaaa!!"
Ha.
What to do with these girls.
Watching the 'female' VTubers swarm her boyfriend with wild interest—and Seol fumbling in panic—Myth's eyes went ice cold.